In addition we sponsor a Cambridge Choral Scholars program at the Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, offer voice classes in winter and summer for our members, and perform Messiah selections for the patients at Youville Hospital in December. Not every Chorus member participates in every event, but our season offers something for everyone.

After five years of devoted service Penny Peters has stepped down as President of the Cambridge Community Chorus. Penny comments:

Let us once again extend to Penny our deepest gratitude for all her hard work and leadership during the past five years. The benefit of Penny’s experience and wisdom will not be lost because she will continue to serve on the Board as Vice President.

Penny’s well-earned "retirement" was made possible at the May board meeting by the election of Paul Raila as the new President of the Chorus. Let us welcome Paul in his new role and offer him our support by collectively volunteering to take on more of the tasks needed to keep the Chorus operating and growing (lest he burn out sooner rather than later). Paul comments:

Long time board member Stash Horowitz graciously stepped down in May to make room on the Board for incoming President Paul Raila. Many thanks to Stash for his counsel and service, and we’re pleased that he will still continue to sing with us. The Board reestablished the office of Vice President that will be served by outgoing President Penny Peters. Many thanks to Treasurer Rick Nelson and Clerk Jayne Cantor for continuing in their respective offices

"As the Chorus continues to grow so does our need for more volunteers to help us keep things running smoothly. Part of the reason I agreed to serve as President is because I felt I owed service to an organization that has given me much satisfaction and pleasure. I urge each of you to think about helping with the many tasks needed to keep your Chorus running smoothly. To be truly a member of the Chorus really means more than just attending rehearsals and concerts."

"We have an urgent need for people to organize and chair the Fundraising Committee, to do grantwriting and chair the Japan Tour Committee. I addition, I would like to find help to produce and mail this newsletter three times a year (thanks to Penny Peters and Kathy Williams for their help this go round). I would also like to see us publish a member directory to make it easier for us to communicate with each other outside of rehearsals and help promote ‘community’ within the Chorus.

It has been my hope for the last few years that we have the opportunity to know more about the extraordinary depth of talent that we have in the Cambridge Community Chorus. My wish has been that we might feature several members regularly in our newsletters. It is my great pleasure to share with you some information about our new President.

Paul Raila — Born: May 12, 1953 in Baltimore, MD.

Paul has been involved in musicmaking from an early age. His mother, a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, was both a music teacher and church Organist/Choir-director; his father, an avid "fan" and determined folk guitarist. This love of music provided a great environment and opportunities for Paul to explore and study the piano, guitar, violin and singing.

Paul's college days were spent in Cambridge at MIT! Yes, he's a graduate of the great school that hosts our annual Messiah performances! While at MIT Paul sang with the Logarhythms (even at Symphony Hall/Boston POPS on "Technology Night"). He also managed to find time to participate in performances of Camelot, Gilbert & Sullivan, and had featured roles in The Fantastiks and Man of La Mancha.

He has sung Messiah with a number of choruses in the Boston area, and has most recently had solo roles in several productions of the North Cambridge Family Opera Company.

Paul's professional life has been both "exciting and fulfilling". As an experienced digital new media professional he is a founder of two new media companies in the Boston area. His most recent company has been dedicated to the "full service development of interactive media solutions for adult learning & reference, business-to consumer & business-to-business communications, and public exhibition (museums & tradeshows)". His clients have included: Apple Computer, 3M, Fidelity Investments, Nynex, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and many others. Paul has worked as Electronic Media Consultant and Technical Director for several organizations in Cambridge and the Boston area. He has received numerous awards and commendations for his insightful and dedicated work.

These words do not of course begin to fully describe our talented Tenor Section Co-leader - Paul joined the Cambridge Community Chorus for Messiah in 1998. We all first wondered who this tenor in the sweat pants was. Yeah, the guy who brings hot tea to retreats, and provides an elegant-gourmet lunch, and always volunteers to help move those horrible, heavy-wonderful choral risers and platforms (from Merri Ansara's garage)! Yeah, the one who … does so many thoughtful and generous things - yeah, he's our new Prez.

Thank you Paul — thank you Penny — thank you Rena.

I hope this feature will be the first of many to follow. We have so much to learn about and from each other. Please let us have several volunteers to help make these shared bios possible.

Questions? Call Paul Raila, President (617) 625-6588